4 Ways to Save on a Romantic Holiday Getaway

It’s your first holiday season or maybe one of your first as a newly married couple. This wonderful time of year is filled with the usual seasonal hubbub, like parties and getting shopping lists checked off. While they certainly are joyous, the holidays can also be stressful, and the end of the year can be a perfect time to get away and reconnect as a couple.

The irony is, the holidays are also the time of year when funds run lowest, making it difficult to go on vacation. Fortunately, with a little forward planning and ingenuity, you and your partner can still have a dreamy romantic getaway without breaking the bank. Here are a few tips to help.

1. Seek off-season destinations. Many wonderful tourist destinations have their low travel season around the holidays. Traveling off-season means that the weather is usually not ideal, but you can get cheaper flights, accommodations, and sometimes even meals. You will also have fewer crowds to deal with.
   
   Do your research ahead of time because peak and low seasons vary around the world. Romantic hot spots such as Europe, Japan, and even local destinations like Siargao have their low season around the November to January months.
   
   
2. Keep it local. Speaking of local destinations, why not narrow your search to choose a destination within the Philippines? Take advantage of the abundance of natural beauty and gorgeous sunsets that are right in your own backyard to set the mood with your loved one.
   
   Traveling close to home is a wonderful way to save money and make sure that any money you do spend is spent well – benefiting local livelihoods and helping out your fellow countrymen.
   
   
3. Go for affordable fun. Once you’ve chosen a place to escape to, booked the best budget flight that you could find, and picked decently priced accommodations, all that’s left to do is enjoy yourselves, right? Actually, the best way to save money on a trip is to go in with a game plan. Planning out your activities will help you set a budget and stick to it while traveling.
   
   Research your destination online and find out as much as you can about affordable and fun activities. Look up free events, local parks, scenic walks or special deals at museums. Also, as soon as you arrive, find out what locals like to do for fun by chatting up your taxi driver or consulting local events publications such as Time Out. Not only will you avoid pricey tourist traps, you’ll end up creating unique memories.
   
   
4. Book a staycation. If your budget is really tight and you’d like to avoid ending your first married year in debt, then book a short-but-sweet staycation instead. Since you’ll be saving on a lot of the expenses associated with travel, you’ll be able to craft a better experience with an extra sprinkling of pampering and luxury. One or two nights at a hotel in your city along with trying a restaurant or spa that you would normally find too costly can still be cheaper than a week of budget travel.
   
   Once you’re back home after your romantic escape, you can get back to the business of building a life together and saving for your future. BPI AIA's Dollar Protect Plus can support your long-term savings goals by leveraging the strong US Dollar while providing the traditional protection of life insurance. A great start to protecting your future together!

Learn more about how you can invest in global funds and secure your financial future in an affordable way with Dollar Protect Plus. Visit any BPI branch nearest you and speak to our Bancassurance executive today!